Pen Show Prep 2022: A Short List of Things to See at the Baltimore Pen Show

Today’s post will be relatively short - I’m in full “panic packing” mode as I get ready to leave town for just over a week, which is actually the longest I’ve been on the road in nearly two years. I checked the Baltimore Pen Show website this morning and found that the list of exhibitors had been updated to reflect what I presume is the final group of vendors attending the show. Here is my own “short list”, though you know I’ll just end up wandering around for three days and discover a bunch of other ways to get into trouble!

• Nib Grinds. My priority at pen shows is to get nibs worked on if they need it, so my first order of business will be to get on the list for one of the many workers who will be at the show. Per the exhibitor list, this might include The Nib Tailor, Custom Nib Studio, Pen Realm, J.J. Lax Pen Co., and All in the Nib.

• Franklin-Christoph. As I mentioned in my “Pen Show Prep 2022” post, one of the most popular things to do at a show is to check out the Franklin-Christoph prototype trays that they set out each morning, and I usually pick up at least one or two of these pens, which give me the opportunity to add on a custom SIG grind on a versatile JoWo No. 6 nib.

• Schon DSGN. I REALLY want to pick up of the new anodized full-sized fountain pens, as well as a faceted multicolor anodized Pocket Six. Ian always brings a few unique things to pen shows and sometimes launches new colors. If I can find a No. 8 Bock nib, I might try to get a spare section for one of my Ultem pens.

• Kanilea Pen Company. It’s been a bit of a tradition for me to pick up one Kanilea Pen per year, either at the Baltimore Show or the D.C. Pen Show. I haven’t seen Hugh and Karol for a while, so I’m looking forward to seeing what they bring to Baltimore!

• Ink. If there’s one area where the show looks light this year, its general-purpose ink vendors. Dromgoole’s is still on the list, as is Federalist Pens and Paper, but other larger ink-heavy vendors like Vanness are not attending. Personally, I’m looking to pick up additional inks from Ferris Wheel Press, as well as several of the Laban Greek Mythology inks.

• Vintage Pens. Yes, I’m looking to add a few more vintage pens to my collection, and possibly building out some of the mini-collections I’ve accumulated over the years, like my set of Parker Sonnets and possibly some more Parker 51s.

Attending your first pen show? Be sure to check out last week’s post on Pen Show Prep! If you have any questions about Baltimore or shows in general, feel free to drop me a line!

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I’m pretty sure that at least two of my Kanilea pens are Baltimore Pen Show Purchases!

Get Your Shop Orders in Today - Last Call

I’m looking forward to seeing everyone at the show! Just a friendly reminder that any T.G.S. Curated Shop Orders placed after closed of business today (5pm U.S. Central Time) will ship upon my return Friday, March 18. Many thanks for your understanding!

The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by reader contributions and purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and the T.G.S. Patreon Program, which offers access to online meetups, exclusive discounts and pre-orders, and more! This post does not contain paid third-party affiliate links.

Shop Update: Grades of Graphite, from 6B to F

Headed into 2022, one stationery niche I wanted to be sure continued to thrive was graphite, and that pencil lovers continued to have an outlet to purchase pencils in all grades of graphite, both individually and by the dozen or in a set. We recently filled out our selection of pencils on offer in The Curated Shop, and now feature a range of high-end pencils from multiple brands in hardnesses ranging anywhere from 6B to F.

On the darker end of the scale, we offer pencils in the 6B to 3B range, including a pencil set from Midori MD that features five different pencils in 6B, 4B, 2B, B, and HB hardnesses, along with pencil caps and a sharpener. Fans of softer graphite may also want to check out the Tombow Mono and Mitsubishi Hi-Uni, both of which are available in the dark-but-still-usable 2B and B grades, as well as the 3B Caran d’Ache Edelweiss. We’ve recently added the Tombow 2558 in “B”, so there’s now a darker option to this everyday workhorse.

A little behind-the-scenes look at our pencil shelf!

As mentioned above, nearly all of our pencils are available individually or by the dozen, in addition to a handful of pencil sampler or gift sets from Midori and Caran d’Ache and, of course, erasers and sharpeners. Visit the T.G.S. Curated Shop to check out the full range, along with our curated selection of pens, paper, and desk and reading accessories.

The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by reader contributions and purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and the T.G.S. Patreon Program, which offers access to online meetups, exclusive discounts and pre-orders, and more! The T.G.S. Curated Shop is an authorized retailer of TWSBI and all other brands stocked.

Sunday Reading for March 6, 2022

1. Responsibility for Nibs (via Dapprman). Personally, I believe that responsibility for nib quality control must rest with the manufacturer. While I am perfectly happy to test fountain pens for customers before I ship them on, I’ll only do this upon request and usually limit myself to a visual inspection - there is a sizable number of people who do not want their new pens inked (or even the seal on the box broken) even if this is the only way for a retailer to really know whether a pen writes correctly.

2. How Does Nib Size Affect the Look of Your Handwriting (via Fountain Pen Love). Personally, I find that my own handwriting looks best in a fine/medium nib, with a soft cursive italic grind.

3. Staying Organized: Midori 1 Day 1 Page (via A Fleeting Ripple). The Midori MD 1 Day 1 Page Planner and undated Codex notebooks are exceptionally fountain pen friendly and an excellent option for a daily planner. (We sell the undated version in our own Curated Shop.)

4. Ink Review #657: Sheaffer Red (via Fountain Pen Pharmacist). I haven’t inked this one up in a while (and probably actually need to pick up a fresh bottle in Baltimore next week), but Sheaffer Skrip Red is one of the all-time great red inks out there.

5. The Many Faces of Shading Inks, or My Love Affair with Dry Inks (via mnmlscholar). This article does a great job of breaking down the variations in different shading inks, and it’s also a great reminder that drier-writing inks have their place too.

6. A Fine Entry Indeed: the Gravitas Entry (via UK Fountain Pens). Chalk up another win for Gravitas - again, I need to get my hands on one of these, although I’m thinking I might opt for the larger “Sentry” fountain pen.

7. Kobe 45 Silhouette Green (via Mountain of Ink). I love these dark grey-green inks from Sailor. There are many good ones out there.

8. My Plan for the London Pen Show this Weekend (via UK Fountain Pens). Things didn’t settle down enough for me to attend the London Show this Spring, but it’s still on my radar. Just looking at Anthony’s plans makes me envious!

9. Esterbrook Needle Point Nib Launch (via Esterbrook). A new custom grind from Esterbrook is available, offered in collaboration with Kirk Speer of Pen Realm.

10. Ink Review: Monarca Part 1 (via Well-Appointed Desk). I continue to be impressed with Monarca’s inks, and Jesi reviews three great colors here.

In Case You Missed It…

I had a busy week, between getting ready for the upcoming Baltimore Pen Show, the day job, and completing a long awaited review of the Schon DSGN PEEK-a-Boo fountain pen! I also wrote a piece revisiting some of my favorite desk pads, in conjunction with the launch of some new WMS + Co products (discussed more below).

Check Out New Offerings From the T.G.S. Curated Shop, and Be Sure to Sign Up for the Monthly Newsletter

I spent most of last weekend listing the newly arrived series of desk pads from WMS + Co, which are available in several different shapes, sizes, and colors, and all of which feature a massive number of pages made from heavy paper stock. (The white handles fountain pen ink quite well, the color-slicked paper is definitely more for pencils and gel/roller/ballpoints, though some fountain pen inks might have success.) We also received a full restock of Clairefontaine paper, including French-ruled notebooks, Triomphe writing pads, and the 1951 Series A5 Notebooks!

On Friday I also sent out the first monthly shop newsletter, which will send you shop news on new releases, pre-sales, and special offers directly to your inbox no more than once per month. (I hate daily/weekly spam just as much as you do.) You can check it out here, along with the first offer, 10% off dated and undated planners using the coupon code PLANNER10 at checkout. After this month, the newsletter and any included offers will be available to subscribers only.

Life Paper

Clairefontaine Paper

Tomoe River 68 gsm

Book Darts

Consider Joining TGS Patreon for Access to Monthly Meetups and First Dibs on Gently Used Stationery, Exclusive Products and More!

For some additional fun, and to help support the blog consider joining the Patreon program. Patreon supporters receive special pricing and early access to product releases and collaborations such as the T.G.S. x Sunderland pen, in addition to other benefits. You can read more about T.G.S. Patreon here. This year I’ve introduced monthly online meetups, which take place on Friday or Saturday and have been super enjoyable. The Patreon membership also has “first dibs” on my regular gently used stationery sales, and a bunch of new gently used products just hit the Patreon store page this past week!

Pen Show Prep 2022: Back to Baltimore!

This weekend will probably be consumed by getting caught up on shipping shop orders and cleaning/re-inking pens as I get ready for - you guessed it - my first pen show of the year and one of my favorite stops on the show circuit! The Baltimore-Washington International Pen Show isn’t the largest of the shows, but it’s very well-attended and features a diverse array of vendors and after-hours events. Ever since I had to miss the Philadelphia Pen Show in January, I’ve been looking forward to attending Baltimore. Read on to see how I’m getting ready and how to get in touch if you’re attending the show.

Are You Planning to Attend Your First Pen Show? Here’s a Short Recap of How I Prepare

For a more in-depth discussion of pen shows and why you should consider visiting, check out my previous “Pen Show Primer” series, including Volume 1: Why Visit a Pen Show; Volume 2: Getting Ready for a Pen Show; and Volume 3: Tips for Surviving the Pen Show. Today I’ll briefly run through my favorite tips for making your pen show experience successful.

• Check the List of Exhibitors. While the current list of exhibitors who will be attending Baltimore isn’t 100% accurate (it still shows T.G.S. attending as a vendor, for example), it will give you an idea of what to expect and how to prioritize if you have limited time at the show. I highly recommend purchasing the weekend or VIP pass if one is available, since it let’s you attend during non-public hours and get a slight head start on the rush.

• Make a Short List of “Must-See” Vendors, Especially Small Makers and Nib Workers. The wonderful thing about pen shows is that they give you an opportunity to see in person those smaller makers and vendors who don’t have a storefront or sell through traditional retail channels. The downside is that quantity is often limited, especially on “show-exclusive” releases, so if there is a vendor who you really want to see, visit them first. For example, Franklin-Christoph releases a tray of prototypes first thing in the morning on each day of the show, and these go fast. Similarly, Schon DSGN often brings new finishes of their Pocket Six and other pens to the show, so if this is a pen on your list and you want to have your pick of colors, get there early, preferably on Friday. The Franklin-Christoph and Schon DSGN tables are often my first stop, after I get on the list for nib grinder(s) if I want to have a nib ground or a pen tuned. (Many nib grinders are now allowing you to make appointments ahead of time, so check their websites to see.)

• Set a Budget. It’s REALLY EASY to get overwhelmed and spend more money than you can/want to spend without realizing it. (Trust me on this.) Back when vendors operated on a mostly cash-only basis, it was easier to stay on budget because you had to go to an ATM, and mercifully the ATMs at the show hotels often ran out of money and saved you from yourself. These days, with the advent of payment apps, most people accept credit cards, Venmo, or PayPal and you need to pay close attention to be sure that you don’t find yourself needing to unload a large portion of your pen collection when you get back home in order to pay your show bills.

• Take at Least One Seminar or Workshop. One of the reasons I love the Baltimore Show is the range of non-shopping activities that are scheduled throughout the weekend. This year’s lineup includes three calligraphy classes, a Zentangles class, and multiple seminars on pen collecting/repair, in addition to a “Fountain Pens 101” session for those just getting into this hobby.

• Save Time, A Little Bit of Money, and Energy for Dinner and After-Hours Events. At night I typically have dinner with friends and then hang out in the hotel lobby/bar area sharing pens, inks, and show acquisitions. If safety concerns permit it, try to spend at least one evening visiting with other attendees and vendors. It’s the best way to not only make friends but to have the opportunity to handle and write with pretty much any pen you could ever want to try. Most people in this community are kind and willing to share their knowledge - I always bring a few cases full of pens for people to try out.

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The Lochby Tool Roll is coming to Baltimore! The two pens on the far right are vintage Parker Vacumatics I need to have restored. The rest are pens that I currently have inked up that I’m in the process of reviewing and/or will bring for after-hours fun.

What to Bring to a Pen Show

This is pretty straightforward and doesn’t change too much from year to year:

• A bag that's comfortable to carry, and shoes that are comfortable to stand in all day. You will likely spend a lot of time on your feet, and unless you have a room at the hotel, space to sit will be limited in the ballroom and there won’t be a safe place to set your bag down. (Unfortunately, there has been a rash of pen show thefts this year, so I would not recommend leaving your pens or bag unsupervised anywhere.)

• Water and Snacks. Food at hotel restaurants can be expensive, and since many pen shows are located in hotels near the airport, there aren't great options for shopping nearby. Bring a couple of snack bars, a bag of nuts, or whatever high-energy food you prefer. Please don’t forget to eat and hydrate!

• Paper to test inks and pens. Some vendors will let you test a pen before you buy it by dipping it in ink, and all nib grinders/tuners will want you to write with the pen they are working on. I carry two types of paper with me to pen shows: Tomoe River paper and a Write Notepads spiral notebook, not just because they are guaranteed to be ink-friendly, but because it’s the paper I tend to use for most of my writing.

• Pens that you want to share, trade, or have worked on. I typically bring a dozen or so pens with me to shows, though I know people who bring many more. For pen show travel, I’ve carried both pen cases and pen rolls, though I’ve been leaning more towards pen rolls lately.

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This year I’ll likely bring dip pens to test inks if people are willing to share. Shown here are the Drillog and a Kakimori Brass Nib.

What’s on My Radar for This Year’s Baltimore Pen Show?

Baltimore will be my first pen show of 2022, and I have several things I want to check out, including the new Schon DSGN Anniversary Edition Ballpoint, and of course the full-size fountain pens that I missed seeing in person when I couldn’t attend Philadelphia. I’m also looking for several additional Laban Greek Mythology Inks, and a few vintage pens to add to my rotation.

If you’re going to the show, hit me up via e-mail (joe@gentlemanstationer.mom) or Instagram (@gentlemanstationer). I’d love to say hello! While I won’t be attending as an exhibitor this year due to work and family commitments on either side of the weekend that don’t leave me enough time to get ready, I plan to be there in my personal capacity Thursday afternoon through Sunday morning.

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Looking to grab the latest release from SchonDSGN? Get to the table early!

Get Your Shop Orders in This Weekend

Fair warning: Because I’m attending the show next week (among other commitments), I’ll be on the road from Thursday, March 10 through Friday, March 18 and shipping will be a bit slower than my usual three business days. If you’ve had your eye on anything in the shop, or need anything to arrive the week I’m away, be sure to get your orders in by Tuesday just to be safe. I will make one shipping run Thursday morning and then I’m off to Baltimore. See you there!

This post does not contain paid third-party affiliate links. The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and T.G.S. Patreon Program, which offers access to online meetups, exclusive discounts and pre-orders, and more!

Thursday Drops: Announcing the New TWSBI Swipe in Pear Green

This week TWSBI announced the launch of the new TWSBI Swipe in “Pear Green,” which will be released on March 18, with pre-orders potentially available a few days beforehand, depending on stock. If you’re unfamiliar with the TWSBI Swipe, it’s TWSBI’s latest entry in their fountain pen lineup - a cartridge-converter pen that ships with not one, but two, different high-capacity converters and represents tremendous value, both for those new to fountain pens as well as to experienced users looking for an everyday workhorse. The Pear Green TWSBI Swipe will be priced standard at $26.99.

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Each Swipe ships with a cartridge, a traditional twist converter, and a plunger-style converter. Photo courtesy of TWSBI

If you’d like to learn more about this pen, you can check out our writeup of the TWSBI Swipe. The T.G.S. Curated Shop is an authorized TWSBI retailer, and we currently have the following TWSBI fountain pens in stock, in addition to the current colors of the TWSBI Swipe:

1. TWSBI Diamond 580 Piston Filler. The classic TWSBI is still probably my favorite, overall. The pen that started it all is now available in a variety of colors and trims, and the nib units are still interchangeable and available for purchase separately.

2. TWSBI Diamond Mini Fountain Pen. Do you love the idea of the TWSBI Diamond 580’s integrated piston filling system, but are you in the market for something a bit smaller, or something that posts? The Diamond Mini is a pocketable piston filler that expands into a full-size pen when posted.

3. TWSBI Vac700 Iris. TWSBI’s latest . We currently have one pen in stock with a broad nib, and will try to get more as soon as stock becomes available.

4. TWSBI Vac Mini. Like the its sibling the Diamond Mini, the TWSBI Vac Mini is a smaller version of the Vac700R, only more portable and more postable. This little pen holds a ton of ink, and the shutoff valve in the vacuum filling system makes it a great choice for a pocket fountain pen.

5. TWSBI ECO. Last but certainly not least, the TWSBI ECO has arguably stolen the crown from the Diamond 580 as TWSBI’s “flagship” fountain pen. The colorful ECO features an excellent integrated piston filling system for only $32.99, and comes in a wide array of colors and finishes, including two different rose gold trim models.

Learn More About TWSBI Fountain Pens By Visiting The Review Archive!

I’ve written extensively about TWSBI pens for years on the site, and past content has been consolidated into the TWSBI section of the Fountain Pen Review Archive. Past articles include a detailed comparison of the TWSBI Diamond 580 with the TWSBI ECO, and why you might prefer one over the other, as well as reviews of the Vac700R, the Vac Mini, and various other TWSBI models.

The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by reader contributions and purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and the T.G.S. Patreon Program, which offers access to online meetups, exclusive discounts and pre-orders, and more! The T.G.S. Curated Shop is an authorized retailer of TWSBI and all other brands stocked.